Stores busy supplying videos, pizza and liquor

Some Washington County businesses were closed on Presidents' Day, a traditionally busy shopping day, but others were busy Monday providing items much sought after following the snowstorm, including videos, liquor and pizza.

Richard Lesh, owner of A to Z Video, said he had not planned to be open Monday.

But he stopped by the store in the North Village Shopping Center at about 1 p.m. to pick up something and while he was there, people showed up wanting to rent videos.

He said he let them rent movies and the next thing he knew, there was a steady flow of customers.

"For a Monday it was busier than usual but for a snow day" it was not unusual, he said.

Family Video in Williamsport had more business than usual throughout the weekend, manager Heather Trenary said.

The video store, along with a liquor store, were the only places in town open Monday, she said.

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Customers were being told they wouldn't be charged if they couldn't return a video on time because of the snow, she said.

While Trenary was speaking, Stephanie Lowman was checking out the video selection. Lowman said she asked her father, who has a sport utility vehicle, to drive her to the video store and he agreed.

She was renting "Divine Secrets of the Ya- Ya Sisterhood" and "My Big Fat Greek Wedding."

Valley Mall was closed Monday because of the snow, which meant businesses would have to defer Presidents Day sales, mall marketing director Julie Simmons said.

Hagerstown residents wanted pizza but they wanted the food taken to them, Vinnie Dicola, owner of Rocky's Pizza on Hagerstown's Public Square, said.

While business was brisk Sunday and Monday, "99 percent" of the business was deliveries, he said.

The pizza shop made 40 deliveries between 4 and 8 p.m. Sunday, more than normally are made in an entire day, Dicola said.

But even with a four-by-four truck, there were two areas the driver was unable to reach because of unplowed roads, he said.

In one case, the family and the driver settled on a point to meet, he said. The other customer, however, insisted the food be delivered to the home, which was impossible, Dicola said.

Central City Liquors Inc. had more business than usual for a Monday, which manager Charles Burkholder said he attributed in part to people being off work.

And, he said, people want something to drink after they get finished shoveling snow.

Although much of his competition was closed, Jim Frank of Jim Frank Bail Bonds at 37 W. Antietam St. was working Monday, just in case anyone needed to post bond.